Best Medicare Advantage Plans in South Dakota (2027)

Aetna Medicare is the best Medicare Advantage company in South Dakota for the 2027 plan year. It has five plans across 10 counties with a 4-star median CMS rating and a $7,150 median annual cost exposure. UnitedHealthcare has the highest median CMS rating at 4.5 stars and serves 45 counties, the broadest geographic reach in the state. It also matches Aetna's $7,150 in median cost exposure but has just one plan.

Align powered by Sanford Health Plan sells two plans across 19 counties with a 4-star median CMS rating and $7,229 in median cost exposure, while Medica has four plans available in 27 counties, though its $7,311 median cost exposure is the highest in the state.

South Dakota has 12 non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans from four carriers in 2027. Plan availability varies by county, and the average county has only five plans to choose from. Just under half of plans have a $0 premium, while maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits range from $4,450 to $7,150.

South Dakota has 12 non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans from four carriers in 2027, all PPOs. With relatively few options available in each county, focus on these four factors when comparing plans:

The median monthly premium for Medicare Advantage in South Dakota is $10, though 42% of plans charge no monthly premium at all. Out-of-pocket maximums range from $4,450 to $7,150, with a median of $7,150. Depending on how much care you use, a plan with a monthly premium and lower cost sharing could cost less over the year than a $0-premium plan with a higher out-of-pocket limit.

All plans in the state are PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans, which provide more flexibility to use out-of-network providers than HMOs. You'll pay less for in-network care and more when using out-of-network providers.

• South Dakota Senior Health Information and Insurance Education (SHIINE): The state's free Medicare counseling program. Staff and volunteer counselors answer coverage questions, walk you through your plan options and help identify programs that reduce your costs. You can reach SHIINE at (866) 854-5465.
• South Dakota Department of Social Services: The state agency overseeing Medicaid and Medicare programs in South Dakota, with guidance on eligibility and coverage coordination.
• South Dakota Division of Insurance: The state regulator for licensed insurance companies and agents. Use it to verify a plan or agent's credentials before enrolling.
• Medicare.gov Plan Finder: The Medicare Plan Finder searches plans by your ZIP code and displays 2027 premiums, out-of-pocket costs, drug coverage and CMS star ratings side by side.

MoneyGeek evaluated South Dakota Medicare Advantage companies using five CMS data sources for the 2027 plan year, including the Medicare Plan Landscape File, Plan Benefit Package files, CMS Star Ratings, the CAHPS Report Card Master Table and the Contract/Plan Enrollment file.

How We Score Carriers

Each carrier in the state receives an overall MoneyGeek score out of five from a weighted average of three category scores:

• Affordability (40%): Maximum annual cost exposure, calculated as annual premiums plus the maximum out-of-pocket limit, along with inpatient hospital, specialist and primary care costs.
• Quality and Member Experience (40%): CMS Star Ratings make up 60% of this category and CAHPS C26 member ratings make up 40%. Both are measured at the contract level.
• Benefits and Access (20%): Supplemental benefits, including dental, OTC, vision and hearing, make up 50% of this category. County coverage makes up 30% and plan choice per county makes up 20%.